New here and New to BP husbandry, how long to let her hide.

[Eileithyia's keeper]

So I finally am the proud keeper of a ball python. My enclosure is set up according to care sheet instructions. I have to get a dimmmer for my uth asap though, just read about that
My BP is a juvy, just got her last Thursday. I got her at a pet store, which had her for abuot a week. She had been offered food but had not eaten. I have not attempted to feed her as she is plump and I know giving her time to adjust to her new home is important.
What I am curious about is her and I getting to know eachother.
I've read conflicting things about how long to leave them alone in thier new homes before handling them to get to know eachother.
When I first put her in her enclosure she explored it for a couple of hours. Since then she has been tightly coiled in one of her hides and has not come out since late Thursday night. That's only three days now really.
I really want our relationship to get off on a good footing so I'm asking for advice from those of you who have done this all before.
How long should I leave her a lone before attempting to handle her again?

Will she come out of that tight space on her own or should I try to pry her, gently out at some point? when? if at all...

Is it possible she could stay in there long enough to put herself at risk of poor health, e.g. not eating enough, not having access to water?

When should I first offer her a feed?

Thanks so much!
I know these questions have probably all been asked a million times. I scrolled thru the husbandry forum and read many of the answers to several posts but didn't get clear answers to what I think my questions are. Sorry if there a terrible repeats.

Eileithya's keeper.

[deftones2015]

I let all of the snakes I have gotten sit for a week. I don't mess with the cage at all except to change out water. After a week I offer a meal. After they eat, if they do, I let them set for 2 or 3 more days to digest, then I take them out to handle them.

One thing I have noticed is my ball will hide ALL the time, but in the middle of the night I will see him out quite often. Your bp is just doing what is normal, especially with a change in environment.

Also, if you can post pix! lol I love pics

[Stewart_Reptiles]

How long should I leave her a lone before attempting to handle her again?

The priorities when you get a new animal are

1# Let them settle in
2# Have a successful feeding

I generally recommend new owner to leave the animal alone for a week (No handling) and offer food at the end of that week than if successful you will be to handle your new BP 48 hours later, if not successful wait another week offer food again (same still no handling)

Is it possible she could stay in there long enough to put herself at risk of poor health, e.g. not eating enough, not having access to water?

Nope she is fine, remember that is what they do, BP spend about 80% of their time hiding whether it is in captivity or in the wild.

When I want to handle one of mine I just lift up the hide (if there is an hide in the enclosure) make the animal aware of my presence and than pick it up.

[asixtwo]

I let all of the snakes I have gotten sit for a week. I don't mess with the cage at all except to change out water. After a week I offer a meal. After they eat, if they do, I let them set for 2 or 3 more days to digest, then I take them out to handle them.

One thing I have noticed is my ball will hide ALL the time, but in the middle of the night I will see him out quite often. Your bp is just doing what is normal, especially with a change in environment.

Also, if you can post pix! lol I love pics

Ditto!
BP are primarily nocturnal!
I actually try to do all my feeding after midnight, because that is when they are most active.

Once you start handling the snake..... learn the animal's body language.
Is it wrapping your hand and hanging out or is is whipping around like a nut or is it trying to crawl away?

I have snakes I use for my educational programs at the zoo that will chill out around mt neck all day.... and others that I rotate in and out of the presentations every 10 minutes or so when I notice they are getting uncomfortable with handling.

[Eileithyia's keeper]

Thanks for your replies. It feels better to hear from others. I just don't want to mess this up. No matter how much I've read I guess it takes going thru it, and having others who have gone thru it to bounce things off of is wonderful.
Thanks!